PEACE OR WAR?

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6704, 30 December 1908, Page 5

PEACE OR WAR?

THE BALKAN QUESTION TURKISH REPLY TO AUSTRIAN PROPOSALS. WILL CONTINUE POURPARLERS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received December 2D, 10.5 p.m.) CONSTANTINOPLE, December 2D. The Turkish Government lias informed the Marquis Pallavicini, Austrian Ambassador to the Porte, that it is not intended to give ,a written reply to the concrete proposals submittecr by Austria; last week. It is intimated, however, that tho Porte will continue pourparlers with Baron Aohrouthal, tho Austrian Minister of Foreign, Affairs, through the Turkish Ambassador. The proposals, which wero submitted to tho Grand Vizier last week, indicated aubtria's willlngnc&a to agree to an increase of customs duties to 16 per cent. Some compensation , was also offeree! on account of the share of Bosnia ami Herzegovina in the Ottoman public debt, to tho extent of £4,000,C00. If Turkey persisted, Austria would prefer counterclaims arising out ol expenditure over Bosnia and Herzegovina and Novibazar, amounting to twenty million crowns.

A BRUSH IN BOSNIA. AUSTRIAN PATROL FIRED UPON TWO SERVIANS KILLED. (Received December 29, 10.5 p.m.) VIENNA, December £9. An Austrian patrol in Zelinjo, Bosi nin, was fired upon by a band of Servian peasants or soldiers who had taken up a . position on tho opposite bank of the river Drina. Tho Austrians returned the fire and killed two of tho aggressors. ALARM IN ITALY. “IN THE EVENT OF CONFLICT.” ROME, December 23. Tho tension between Austria and Russia is the cause of alarm in Italy'. Newspapers declare that in the event of conflict with Austria a large number of Italians would volunteer to servo with Servia. The Austrian troops in Bosnia aro suffering severely from cold, and in addition a number have been attacked by typhus. A DANGER TO PEACE. , ADVICE TO AUSTRIA. LONDON, December 28. Commenting upon the speech made in the Duma last week by M. Isvolsky. Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs, “The Times” says that he lias sa*rifioed his popularity for tho sake of European tranquillity. «The Times ” urges Austria •to come to tejms quickly', since the existing situation constitutes .a danger to peace, and says that tho danger is becoming more menacing as the winter slips away.